Spade construction for fenceposts



Nov; 15, I927. 1,649,174

J. W. MEAKER SPADE couswnucnou FOR FENCEPOSTS Filed Sept. 20. 1923 V Patented Nov. 15:, 192 7.

UNITED A-res A NT" OFFICE.

Jorm w. MEAKER, or cnrcaeo, rumors.

SPADE CONSTRUCTION FOR FENCEPOSTS.

' Application filed September :20, 1928: Serial No. 663,827.

' 1 bility for the post. The posts are of relatively small-cross section in order to reduce the weight and it is necessary to provide additional bearing area in the soil.

. Since the greatest stresses occur at right angles to the line of fencing and since the posts are supported indirections longitudinal to the fence by the connecting wiring, it has been customary to provide spades 0p 'erative mainly or only in resisting stresses normal to the fence line.

With certain types of metal posts heretofore in use, it has been customary to secure a spade to the face of the post flange. Where the flange is not perfectly smooth, such loca- '25 tion of the spade presents difficulties in attaching, and the attachment is also weakened. Furthermore, a certain proportion of the spade area is wasted since it overlies the area of the fence flange. An additional factor of weakening lies in the fact that-the rivets or similar securing means are subjected to axial stressrather than shearing stress, which latter stress they are most efiiective in resisting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spade adapted for use with a fence post having wire engaging flanges and webs directed rearwardly therefrom, which spade is secured to a web of the post.

lit is an additional object to provide a construction of this character in which the eflective'spade portion is spaced from the post flange whereby it is in contact with the soil throughout its surface.

It is also an object to provide a spade adapted to be so attached to the post that the normal stresses will be resisted by the shearing strength of the fastening means.

It is a further object to provide a spade of this character so associated with a post that portions of the spade are within the efi'ective contour of the post whereby disassociation of the spade from the post under normal stresses is resisted by interrelated integral portions of the spade and post.

It is also an object to provide a spade adapted to drive easily and to effectively resist vertical displacement.

' Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying .drawv ings, in which Figure 1V is a face view of a form of post Figure 2 isa view the left;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the spade members; and- I Figure 4: is a cross section taken on line 4-tof Figure 1.

The post shown in the drawing comprises of Figure l as seen from the wire engaging flange 11, the web 12, and

the bulb 13 on the rear of the web. The edges of the flange are serrated at 14: as best shown in Figure 2, these serrations serving to prevent displacement of the wire fencing. The flange is joined to the web by fillets 15 and the web to the bulb by fillets 16.

The spade comprises the angular members 17 having downwardly inclined uppersurfaces 18 and lower surfaces 19 parallel to the upper surfaces. The legs 20 of the angle members are secured to the web 12 of thefence post by rivets 21 in the form of corrstruction shown. It will, of course, be understood that any other suitable means, such,

showing my improved spade secured there er'ably inclined inwardly toward the plane I of the flange 11.

. It will be noted that the legs 20 are so proportioned as to fit between the fillets 15 and 16 and to bear against those fillets. Normal stresses tending to tear the spade from the post will be in a-direction parallel to the web 12.' Consequently these stresses the edge of-the spade is efiective in displac-' ing earth and thrusting it above the struck up .portions 23. Thus this construction is particularly eificient in affording resistance against vertical displacement ofthe-post.

'By being inclined inwardly toward the The type of flange 11, these portions 23 reduce the total contour of the post over what it would he were they extended in the opposite .direction and they are also effective in thrusting the earth in towards the web and thus increasing resistance when the post is thrust against the earth in a direction extending from the bulb toward the'flange.

The inclined lower edges of the spade aid its driving into the ground and the inclined upper edges not only afford economy in-the use of material but also have a tendency to pack earth toward the web when the Spade is effective in resisting an upward pull upon the post.

spade shown is adapted for rapid commercial production and may be quickly and cheaply attached to posts of the general type shown. The exact forms shown are illustrative only and I contemplate such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In combination with a T-shaped fence post,'a spade secured to said post and meetmg the post-approximately in the plane of the rear of-the'web of the post, the major portion f the spade lying .in a plane par- --allel to that of the post flange.

2. In combinatlonwith a T-shaped fence post, a spade secured to said post and lying in a plane parallel to the post flange and spaced therefrom by. approximately the depth of the post web.

3. In combination with a T-shaped fence post, a spade secured to said post, said spade comprising a pair of angle members, each angle having a leg secured to the post web, and a leg extending at right angles to the web, s'aidlatter legs'lying in a plane approximately parallel to the post flange and spaced therefrom.

at. In combination with a T-shaped fence post, fillets on the web of said post, and a spade secured to thepost, portions of the spade fitting against the post web and between and against the fillets.

5. In combination with a T-shaped fence post, fillets on the web of said post, and a spade secured to the post, and spade comprising oppositely positioned angle members each having a leg fitting against the post web and between and against-the fillets.

6. In combination with a T-shaped fence post, fillets on the web of said post, and a spade secured to the post, the spade comprising oppositely positioned angle members each having a leg fitting against the post web and between and against the fillets, the second leg of each angle member extehding away from the web in a plane parallel to the post flange and spaced therefrom.

7. In combination with a T-shaped fence post, a spade secured to said post, vertical intermediate portions of said spade extending in planes at an angle to the plane of the body of the spade, said planes intersecting the plane of the spade upon: vertical lines, the plane of the body of the spade being spaced from the plane of the flange of the post, and the angularly extending portions of the spade inclining toward the latter'plane- Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of September, 1923.

JOHN W. MEAKER. 

